Electrolytic apparatus



July 29, 1930. w. G. ALLAN' 1,771,984

ELECTROLYTIC APFARATUS Original Filed March 16. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l uwMh IVIENTOR -ITTOR\EYS BYV July 29, 1930. w. G. ALLAN 1,771,984

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Original Filed March 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Ma/W A TTORNISYS.

Patented July 29, 1930 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM G. ALLAN, FTORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO FARLEY G.CLARK ELECTRQLYTIC APPARATUS i Application led March 16, 1925, SerialNo. 15,709. Renewed July 12, 1927.

The invention relates to apparatus adapted for the electrolyticproduction of materials in the solid, gaseous or liquid state, and moreparticularly for the decomposition of water into its gaseous elements byelectrolysis, and while the apparatus illustrated and described ispeculiarly adapted for the electrolytic decomposition of an aqueoussolution of an acid or an alkali for the production of oxygen andhydrogen, the invention is no-t limited to such use, but may be employedin the art of electrolysis generally.

The objects of the invention are To produce a simplified and compactconstruction; which will be cheap to manufacture; which will occupy arelatively small floor space; which will be self contained; which will,because of its light weight, be eX- tremely portable; which may bereadily hooked up into groups; in which a single set of line piping onlyneed be employed; in which each cell unit will discharge into its owngas containers; in which all means of communication will enter the topof the cell; in which there will be no iping between units; in which theproduction, separating, and washing may be carried out in a singlestructure, in which the gas washing and separating element will besmall; in which the amount of piping and pipe fittings are reduced to aminimum. These and further objects will more fully appear in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings considered together orseparately.

One embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which like parts in each of the several figures aredesignated by similar characters of reference, and in which Fig. 1 is aside elevation of the invention as applied toa group composed of aplurality of cell units.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing a portion of a group of unitsand a return flowl manifold.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectionof the product washing and separatingtank, the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line of 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of thedevice illust-rated in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of a modification.

In the drawings A designates a unitary' structure comprising a group ofcells, and a gas separating and washing tank.

rlhe cells forming the group may be of any desired construction, andthere may be any number of them. The drawings show the cells asconstructed more or less as illustrated in my Patent Number 1,464,840 ofAugust 14, 1923 and as composed of rectangular, more or less dish-shapedframe elements formed of sheet metal and having outturned flanges l. Thebottoms, as it were, of the dished portions being stamped out to form arectangular opening whereby each cell wall will be composed of shorttop, bottom and side walls 2, an outwardly projecting flange 1 and aninwardly projecting flange 3, as shown in Fig. 3.

In assembling the elements to form a group of cells, the same are placedin opposed relation and in axial alinement. Between each pair of frameelements is a plate 4 secured in position between the flanges 1 andinsulated therefrom. Between each pair of plates 4 and secured to butinsulated from one of the flanges 3 is a plate 5 which is adapted tocarry a pair of electrodes, one on each side of the plate, whereby eachplate with its electrodes will form a bipolar electrode. At each end ofthe structure is a plate 6 forming the end walls of the group, and eachof which is adapted to carry an electrode whereby each plate 6 will be aunipolar electrode. Between the free faces of each pair of electrodes isdisposed a porous diaphragm which is supported from the plates 4 wherebyeach unit of the group is divided into a cathode cham-v berl and ananode chamber, as illustrated in my patent above referred to.

Secured to the outside of each end plate 6 is a pluralit of metal strips7 each having a plurality o out turned lips whereby the necessarycurrent leads may be attached to the group, or by the use of jumpers anumber of groups may be arranged in series, or

in any other electrical arrangement. t

The cells illustrated and described herein are used as a type, and theinvention is not tobe considered as limited to such a cell orcombination of cells.

The invention is capable of being adapted to, or embodied in, any typeyof electrolytic cell. It may be applied to a single cell or to anynumber of cells arranged in a unitary structure or any number of suchstructures in electrical contact, and is adapted to either the so calledfilter press or pot type of cell, or lto a form of cell having thexcharacteristics of either or both of them, or to t any other type ofcell.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the spaces bounded bythe walls 2 and flanges l are filled with a material 8 having electricalor thermal insulating qualities or both, and carried on the top of thegroup of cells is a gas separating and washing receptacle B.

They said receptacle, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, isformed of sheet metal, preferably of the material stamped out of thesheets of which the cell walls are composed. These stamped out portionsare rectangular-sheets and preferably, in a roup of cells such as thatillustrated, five o such sheets will be employed.

Four of the sheets will be stamped to form shallow rectangular pans eachwith an outwardly projecting annular iange 9. The bottoms of two of saidpans are stamped out leaving a narrow, inwardly projecting flange 10.The narrow, inwardly projecting flanges are secured together, as bywelding. One of the pan-shaped elements is secured by means of itsflange 9 to the similar ii'ange of the doubled element and the otherpan-shaped element is similarly secured to the opposite side of thedoubled element but with a fiat metal sheet 11 between the flanges 9.This will produce a rectangular tank having a longitudinal partitiontherein dividing the samel into two unequal compartments.

Y The partition plate 11 is insulated from the tank elements by sheetinsulation 12 and the opposite tank wall element is insulated from thecentral tank element by sheet insulation 13. The elements are securedtogetherby means 'of bolts 14 passing through the iianges 9, as shown,and said bolts are insulated from the elements by means of insulatingstrips 15 and collars 1.

The partition 11 is provided near its lower end with an opening 11acovered with a screen 11b and a horizontal plate 11c is secured to theplate 11 above the opening and extends toward the opposite wall of thetank. The plate 11c is provided with a downturned extension having ascreened opening 11d therein, the openings 11a and 11d being opposed.The plates 11 and 11c form a pocket extending across the lower portionofthe tank and afeed water inlet pipe 11 communicates with the pocket, asshown. The feed water pipe extends upward above the top of the v haveelectric insulating qualities and which i extends between the tank andthe top of the cell structure whereby heat from the cell structure willnot be communicated to the tank. In addition to the laggingv a block ofelectric insulating material 1 a is interposed between the tank and cellstructure.

It is desired to have it understood that tanks other than thatillustrated may be employed and that the same may or may not be dlvidedinto unequal compartments. A tank havlng two equal compartments, or twotanks, of capacity sufficient to accommodate the hydrogen generated, maybe employed.

Each anode cell chamber is provided with an electrolyte inlet tube 19which enters the top of the chamber near one end thereof, eX- tendsdownwardly near the end wall and then horizontally across the chamber tothe opposite wall near the bottom of the cell. The horizontallimb of thetube is perforated to permit of the escape of the electrolyte.

A similar tube 20 is provided for admitting electrolyte to the cathodecompartment of each cell unit.

The tubes 19 communicate with a return flow manifold 21 above the cellstructure to one side of the tank B, and the tubes 20 communicate witha. similar manifold 22 on the opposite side of the tank. The manifolds21 and 22 are similar in-all respects and a description of one willsuffice for both.

Each manifold is composed of a seriesv of short metal tubes 23 in axialalinement, each section being spaced from each other section by means ofa. plurality of perforated discs 24 of insulating material and eachmetal section is in communication with an inlet tube 19 or 20 as thecase may be. The two end sections 25 need not be as heavily insulated asare the sections to which the tubes are attached. The ends of themanifold are closed by heavy circular metal plates 26 insulated from thesections 25 and the parts are clamped together by means of bolts 27. Themanifold is provided with a gas relief pipe 28 preferably assing throughone of the end sections 25. 'lBhe two return flow manifolds areconnected by means of a pipe 29 having tank B pre erablyopposite ttransparent sections 30, and a branch'31 communicatin with the mixinchamber of vthe lie entrance of the feed pipe 11. A

Each anode cell-chamber is provided with a gas and electrolyte outletpipe 32 and each cathode chamber with a gas and electrolyte outlet pipe33. The pipes 32 enters a manifold 34 and the pipes 33 have similarconnections with a manifold 35, the

Ilatter being of greater capacity than the former. The manifolds arepreferably .built up in the same manner as are themanlfolds 21 and 22.The manifold 34 is provided with an anolyte outlet pipe 36having atransparent section 37, which communicates with the smaller compartmentof the tank B above the screen 18, and a similar pipe 38 connects themanifold 35 and the larger compartment of the tank. l

The top of the small compartment of the tank communicates with a linepipe 39 by means of a pipe 40 having trans arent portion 41, the largecompartment o the tank is connected to a hydrogen line pipe 42 by meansof a pi e 43 similar to the ipe 40.

In the modlfcation illustrated 1n Fig. 7a cooling coil 44 is illustratedfor mantaining a temperature lower than room temperature in the upperpart of the tank B. In this situation the lagging may, if desired, beomitted from the lower part of the tank.

In preparing the apparatus for operation, electrolyte of proper densityis poured into the separating tank and thence to the cells, until alevel has been established somewhere between the levels of the oftakemanifolds 34 and 35 and the return llow manifolds 21 and 22. This may becalled the non-operating level and should be maintained by -feedingmake-up water through the pipe 11".

When the electrolytic process is functioning a higher electrolyte level,which may be termed the operatin level, will be maintained in the tankue to flow of current through the cells. This level will vary with thestrength of the current flow, that is to say, with the volume of gasesproduced.

When the cells are operating theelectrolyte diluted with make-u .waterin the stand pipe l1*a will be higher tan the level of the denserelectrolyte, but when there is no current on the cells and there is nopressure due to generated gases in the separatin compartments the levelsin the tanks an stand ipehwill tend to be reestablished at the same e1t.

'lghe gas relief pipes 28 will prevent accumulation of gases in thereturn low manifolds and thereby prevent clogging of the same. The saidpipes, when discharging to the atmosphere, should be carried to such aheight that electrolyte will not be discharged due to hydrostatic andgas pressure in the apparatus, and likewise to prevent electrolyte frombeing carried along with the gas due to as elect.

n accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principleof the invention has been described together with the apparatus which isnow considered to represent the best embodiment thereof, but it isdesired to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merelyillustrative and that the invention may be carried out in other ways.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. Electrolytic apparatus, comprising .a cell, gas and electrolyteseparating tanks mounted on the top of the cell, the bottoms of thetanks being in close proximity to the top of the cell, connections fordischarging electrolyte from the tanks into the cell and connections fordischarging gas and electrolyte from the cell to the tanks, and meansfor maintaining differences in temperature in the tanks.

2. Electrolytic apparatus, comprising a cell, gas and electrolyteseparating tanks mounted on the top of the cell, the bottoms of thetanks being in close proximity to the top of the cell', connections fordischarging` electrolyte from the tanks into the cell and con nectionsfor discharging gas and electrolyte from the cell to the tanks, andmeans whereby the upper portions of the tanks are maintained at a lowertemperature than the lower portions thereof.

3. Electrolytic apparatus for the production of oxygen and hydrogen b vthe decomposition of water, comprising a cell, a tank member mounted onthe top of the cell said member being divided vertically into two comvpartments,`there being a mixing chamber in the member common to'bothcompartments, means for introducing electrolyte into said chamber, andmeans whereby electrolyte from the member will be conveyed to the cell.

4. Electrolytic apparatus for the production of oxygen and hydrogen bythe decomposition of water, comprising a cell, a tank member mountedonthe top of the cell said member being divided vertically into twocompartments, there being a mixing chamber in the member common to bothcompartments, means for introducing electrolyte into said chamber, andmeans whereby electrolyte from the member will be yconveyed to the cell,said last mentioned means communicating with said mixing chamber.

5. Electrolytic apparatus for the production of oxygen and hydrogen bythe decomposition of water, comprising a cell, a tank member mounted onthe top of the cell said member being divided vertically in twocompartments, there being a mixing chamber in the member, said chamberhaving foraminous walls whereby the chamber will be common said spaceinto the cell an to both compartments, means for introducing electrolyteinto` said chamber, and means whereby electrolyte from the member willbe,

conveyed to the cell.

6. Electrolytic apparatus for the production of oxygen and-hydrogen bythe decomposition of water, comprising` a group consisting of individualcells secured together, a rectangular tank member mounted on top of thecells and in proximity thereto, said member comprising two compartments,a stand pipe communicating with said compartments, a pair of return flowmanifolds in communication with the compartments, a tube offeringcommunication between each manifold and each cell of the group, eachtube being insulated from each other tube, a second pair of manifolds,conduits connecting the anode side of each cell to one of saidmanifolds, conduits connecting the cathode side of each cell with theother of said second manifolds, a conduit connecting the anode manifoldto one of the tank compartments, and a conduit connecting the cathodemanifold with the other tank compartment.

7 Electrolytic apparatus for the production of'oxygen and hydrogen bythe decomposition of water, comprising a group consisting of individualcells secured together, a rectangular tank member mounted on top of thecells and in proximity thereto, said member comprising two compartments,a stand pipe communicating with said compartments, a pair of return flowmanifolds in communication with the compartments, a tube oderingcommunication between each manifold and each cell of the group, eachtube being insulated from each other tube, a second pair of manifolds,conduits connecing the anode 'side of each cell to one of saidmanifolds, conduits connecting the cathode side of each cell with theother of said second manifolds, a conduit connecting the anode manifoldto one of the tank compartments, and a conduit connecting the cathodemanifold with the other tank compartment, and means for conveying gasfrom each of said compartments.

8. Electrolytic apparatus, comprising a cell, a gas and electrolyteseparating tank mounted on the top of the cell and having compartmentsand a passage between these compartments atfordin a space common tothem, means for supplying the tanks with discharging gas and electrolytefrom the cell to the compartments.

10. Electrolytic apparatus, comprising a. cell, a as and electrolyte searatin tank mounted on the top of the cel and y aving compartments and apassage betwe'en these compartments at their lower portions affording aspace common to them, connections for discharging electrolyte from saidspace and connectionsv for discharging gas and electrolyte from the cellto the upper portions of the compartments.

' 11. Electrolytic apparatus, comprising a cell, having cellcompartments for the production of oxygenand hydrogen by the deicomposition of water, a gas and electrolyte separating tank mounted onthe top of the cell and in close proximity thereto, said tank being heatinsulated from the cell and having two compartments and a passagebetween them affording a s ace common to both, separate connections wereby oxygen and electrov heat insulated from the cell and having twocompartments communicating with one another so as to afford a spacecommon to both, separate connections whereby gases and electrolytemaypass from the ce l compartments to the tank compartments and se arateconnections whereby electrolyte will e returned from the space common toboth tank compartments to the cell compartments.

This specification signed and witnessed 'this sixteenth day of February,1925.

WILLIAM G. ALLAN.

electrolyte, connections for supplying the cell with electrolyte fromsaid space, and means for removing gases from the cell and supplyingthesame to the compartments.

9. Electrolytic apparatus comprising a cell, a gas and electrolyteseparating tank mounted on the top of the cell and having compartmentsand a passage between these compartments affording a space common tothem, connections for dischargin electrolyte from connections for les'

